County of Hawaii 1996 - 1997 Annual Report: Department of Public Works

Donna Fay K. Kiyosaki, P.E., was born and raised on Oahu. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Stanford University in 1977. Mrs. Kiyosaki has been a registered Professional Engineer in the Civil Branch since 1982. She has served as Chief Engineer since January 1993. Mrs. Kiyosaki has held previous engineering positions with the Department of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu, the private consulting firms of M & E Pacific and Okahara & Associates, and the Department of Water Supply, County of Hawaii. From 1986 through 1992, Mrs. Kiyosaki was employed by the Hawaii electric Light Company performing a number of duties including heading the civil/survey section, administering the company's capital budget and rural line extension program, and coordinating the utility's integrated resource plan. She has been active in many community organizations such as the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers, the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay, and the Hawaii Island United Way campaign.

Jiro A. Sumada was born in Lihue, Kauai and raised in Hilo. He graduated from Hilo High School in 1975, then continued his formal education at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the University of Hawaii, Manoa. The majority of his practical experience has been in facility maintenance at Air Force bases in Japan, Korea, Guam, and the Philippines. After a short career in the military, Mr. Sumada worked as a design coordinator for Project Managers Hawaii, Inc., overseeing architectural and engineering consultants designing new facilities at the Kahului Airport on Maui. Prior to starting work with the Department of Public Works, Mr. Sumada was employed at Willocks Construction Corporation as an estimator and project engineer.

The department is responsible for all matters relating to engineering; public and private building construction and inspection; wastewater construction and the operation and maintenance of five wastewater systems; solid waste management and landfill programs; construction, inspection and maintenance of public streets, highways, bridges and drainage facilities; acquisition of public and private properties for public purposes; design, operation and maintenance of traffic signals and traffic control devices; and all other public works projects, except for matters relating to parks and recreation and water supply. Public Works is also a key support agency for Civil Defense emergencies.

Implement a comprehensive Capital Improvements Program and project listing. Maximize departmental revenues with effective fiscal management. Encourage professionalism, productivity, and accountability at all levels. Improve and encourage public responsiveness and effective public contact.

The department has 445 employee positions to operate the seven divisions and the administration/fiscal section of the Office of the Chief Engineer.

Walter R. Lucas, a native of Hilo, is a graduate from Hilo High School and Hawaii Community College. He joined the County of Hawaii in 1972 as a maintenance mechanic with the Department of Public Works. He transferred to the Automotive Division in 1976 as an automotive mechanic and became a Road Construction Supervisor in 1979 with the Highway Maintenance Division. He later became the first Safety and Driver Improvement Coordinator for the County of Hawaii. In December 1985, Mr. Lucas was promoted to Superintendent of the Automotive Division.

Wayne T. Onomura, P.E., a native of Honokaa, Hawaii, is a registered professional structural engineer. After graduating from Honokaa High School, he continued his education at California State Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, California, where in 1965 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering. Mr. Onomura was also commissioned as an officer in the United States Army and was honorably discharged as a Captain in the Air Defense Artillery branch.

In 1968 Mr. Onomura began his engineering career with the County of Hawaii. His engineering background includes five years as a plans examiner, five years as a code enforcement coordinator, and 15 years as Deputy Chief of the Building Division. Since January 1993, he has served as the Building Division Chief.

Galen Kuba, P.E., a native of Hilo, graduated from Hilo High School in 1969. He attended the University of Hawaii-Hilo until 1970 and graduated from the University of Hawaii-Manoa in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Mr. Kuba returned to Hilo to work for Inaba Engineering, Inc., until April of 1975 when he began work for the County of Hawaii, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Plans and Surveys. He received his professional civil engineering license on August 5, 1977. On July 1, 1986, Mr. Kuba moved to Wastewater and Solid Waste Division until the creation of a new Solid Waste Division in 1988. He was promoted to Solid Waste Division Chief on June 1, 1989. On August 1, 1995, Mr. Kuba was promoted to Division Chief for the department's Engineering Division. Mr. Kuba is a member and past president of the Lehua Jaycees and University Heights Community Association and a member of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers, Big Island Chapter.

Stanley Nakasone is a graduate of Kohala High School and served in the U.S. Army Combat Engineer Division. He was employed by the Atomic Energy Commission and worked for several local construction companies before joining the County of Hawaii in 1968 as a laborer. Mr. Nakasone was promoted to supervisor in 1970, then to District Road Overseer in 1975, and in 1991 promoted to Superintendent of the Highway Maintenance Division. He has served as Public Works Safety Chairman and member of the County of Hawaii Safety Committee. He is a past recipient of an Incentive Award from the County and was nominated for Outstanding Employee of the Year for the Department of Public Works. He has been active in community organizations, coaching basketball and baseball, and served as Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America.

Laurence E. Capellas, P.E., was born in Waimea, Kauai, and raised on the Big Island. He graduated from Ka'u High School, attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Manoa, Hawaii Technical School, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California State Polytechnic University in 1965. He is a licensed Civil Engineer in both California and Hawaii. Mr. Capellas was appointed Solid Waste Division Chief in April 1993. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Deputy Chief Engineer for two years and was a staff engineer with the Engineering Division of the Department of Public Works for four years. His background also includes six years as manager of the Hawaii Redevelopment Agency in Hilo and sixteen years as an engineer with the Los Angeles County, Department of Public Works.

A native of Hilo, Richard Nishimura graduated from Hilo High School in 1961 and continued his education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1966. After graduation, he served for five years as a navigator in the U.S. Air Force. In 1971 he began his employment with the County of Hawaii as a Civil Engineer with the Department of Public Works. In March 1976, he became the traffic engineer with the department's Division of Traffic Safety and Control. He was promoted to Division Chief of the Traffic Division in September 1985. From June to December 1990, Nishimura served as Deputy Chief Engineer of the Department of Public Works, returning to his post as Traffic Division Chief at the end of his appointment. Mr. Nishimura is a member of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers-Big Island Chapter, the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Originally from Connecticut, Peter J. Boucher, P.E., has resided in Hawaii since 1984. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Fiji. Prior to joining the Department of Public Works in 1994, Mr. Boucher was employed by Pan Pacific Construction as a project manager and by R. M. Towill Corporation as a resident engineer in Kona. Mr. Boucher is a member of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers, Kona-Kohala Chapter, and the Water Environment Federation.